Ring
1500-1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This is an English wedding ring. On the outside is an injunction or appeal to 'Observe wedloke'. The message is reinforced on the inside by the reminder in Latin, 'remember you must die', and therefore live virtuously.
Ownership & Use
At the beginning of the 16th century the normal practice in the marriage ceremony was for the ring to be placed on the third finger of the bride's right hand, but the first book of Common Prayer of Edward VI (1549) specifies the third finger of her left hand. This is probably because a misinterpretation of the ancient author Aulus Gellius (died about 180 AD) had been corrected. It was realised that his description of his belief that a vein flows direct from the third finger to the heart concerns the left hand, and not, as had previously been supposed, the right.
In Roman Catholic Europe in 1614 the Rituale Romanum, an official Catholic book that laid down the services of the church, followed the change of usage to placing the ring on the left hand. English Catholics (known as 'recusants', because they refused to attend Church of England services), however, followed the old practice until about the middle of the 18th century.
This is an English wedding ring. On the outside is an injunction or appeal to 'Observe wedloke'. The message is reinforced on the inside by the reminder in Latin, 'remember you must die', and therefore live virtuously.
Ownership & Use
At the beginning of the 16th century the normal practice in the marriage ceremony was for the ring to be placed on the third finger of the bride's right hand, but the first book of Common Prayer of Edward VI (1549) specifies the third finger of her left hand. This is probably because a misinterpretation of the ancient author Aulus Gellius (died about 180 AD) had been corrected. It was realised that his description of his belief that a vein flows direct from the third finger to the heart concerns the left hand, and not, as had previously been supposed, the right.
In Roman Catholic Europe in 1614 the Rituale Romanum, an official Catholic book that laid down the services of the church, followed the change of usage to placing the ring on the left hand. English Catholics (known as 'recusants', because they refused to attend Church of England services), however, followed the old practice until about the middle of the 18th century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved gold |
| Brief description | Gold ring, engraved 'OBSERVE WEDLOKE' and inside 'MEMENTO MORI' (Remember you must die). England, c. 1500-1600. Jewellery, England |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Engraved 'OBSERVE WEDLOKE' and inside 'MEMENTO MORI' (Remember you must die) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
THREE RINGS Rings engraved with declarations of love were called posy rings (from 'poesy' meaning poetry). It is frequently not possible to tell which love rings were wedding rings, unless, like two of these rings, they make a direct reference to marriage. Any ring could be a wedding ring, and plain gold bands did not become common until the second half of the 17th century. Interlinking rings are known as gimmel rings (gimmel means twin). They symbolised the joining of two people.(27/03/2003) |
| Summary | Object Type This is an English wedding ring. On the outside is an injunction or appeal to 'Observe wedloke'. The message is reinforced on the inside by the reminder in Latin, 'remember you must die', and therefore live virtuously. Ownership & Use At the beginning of the 16th century the normal practice in the marriage ceremony was for the ring to be placed on the third finger of the bride's right hand, but the first book of Common Prayer of Edward VI (1549) specifies the third finger of her left hand. This is probably because a misinterpretation of the ancient author Aulus Gellius (died about 180 AD) had been corrected. It was realised that his description of his belief that a vein flows direct from the third finger to the heart concerns the left hand, and not, as had previously been supposed, the right. In Roman Catholic Europe in 1614 the Rituale Romanum, an official Catholic book that laid down the services of the church, followed the change of usage to placing the ring on the left hand. English Catholics (known as 'recusants', because they refused to attend Church of England services), however, followed the old practice until about the middle of the 18th century. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 905-1871 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
